<p>So for my senior year I'll be taking AP Economics, AP English/Lit, AP Government, and as of right now regular calculus.</p>
<p>I took pre-calculus this year and although I do qualify for AP Calculus, I don't feel my math skills are strong enough and I don't want to risk dropping my GPA for that class.</p>
<p>I wanted to take regular calculus do have a broad base of math knowledge (took two algebras, geometry/trigonometry, and pre-calculus), but since I intend to go into Economics/Finance, I'm considered switching from calculus to AP Stats for next year.</p>
<p>Should I switch from calculus to AP Stats or just stick with calculus? I'll probably be applying to some upper-tier schools (like Amherst, Duke, etc.) and possible one Ivy League (like Yale) for the heck of it.</p>
<p>Here’s my advice: Think about your major. If you’re doing mathematics, science, engineering, or business, then take calculus. I also suggest trying the course for about three weeks, then see if you can switch out of you do not feel it fits you.</p>
<p>Economics and finance will require significant amounts of college math. Minimum is a year of college calculus, with more if you want to go to graduate school in economics or a quantitative finance master’s program (e.g. multivariable calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, real analysis, probability theory).</p>
<p>If “regular calculus” is less rigorous than even the slow-pace AP calculus AB, then you may be in for quite a shock when you have to take an actual college calculus or other math course (AP calculus BC approximates the pace of a college calculus course). AP statistics is also considered a lightweight course, in that it is at most equivalent to a semester of introductory statistics (not necessarily accepted for an economics, finance, or business major).</p>
<p>Well that’s not exactly comforting! I do see your point though. It’s not that I don’t think I could handle AP Calculus. I probably could, but I want to learn at a bit of a slower pace so the topics can really sink in. I’ll stay away from AP Statistics then. Looks like calculus it is.</p>
<p>My advice is to review a bit this summer over what you did in precalc, and maybe even look at some calc concepts. Then take AP AB calculus. It’s not all that hard!</p>
<p>Sent from my Desire HD using CC</p>
<p>If the AP calculus at your high school is AB, then it will be at a slower and gentler pace than calculus in college typically is.</p>